Water softener valve

ABSTRACT

An improved water softener control valve for use on an automatic water softening or conditioning tank where the valve housing is formed of a suitable plastic material positioned within a rigid mounting bracket secured to a water softening tank, and valve cartridges having a double diaphragm actuation are controlled by solenoid operated valves mounted on a plate secured to the valve housing. The valve cartridge has been improved by the elimination of the side drain opening with bleed-off from the upper pressure chamber occurring through the upper diaphragm and an annular bottom seal for the valve cartridge, and the solenoid valve structure has been improved to provide an easier and quicker mounting arrangement of the solenoid valves on the valve plate secured to the control valve and mounting bracket.

- O Umted States Patent 11 1 3,701,360

Morrison Oct. 31, 1972 3,441,047 4/1969 Lyall..............,...........137/343 [72] Inventor: filrlwin A. Morrison, Highland Park, Primary Examinera narold w weakley I Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson [73] Assignee: Culligan International Company,

Northbrook, Ill. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 3, 1971 An improved water softener control valve for use on an automatic water softening or conditioning tank [2]] Appl where the valve housing is formed. of a suitable plastic material positioned within a rigid mounting bracket [52] U.S. Cl. ...............137/454.6, 137/549, 137/550, secured to a water softe ng tan and val e cartridges 251/33 having a double diaphragm actuation are controlled [51 int. 31/18 by Solenoid Operated valves mounted on a plate 581 Field of Search .....251/33; 137/454.6, 549, 550, Secured to the valve housing- The valve cartridge has 5 91/52 been improved by the elimination of the side drain opening with bleed-off from the upper pressure [56] References Cited chamber occurring through the upper diaphragm and an annular bottom seal for the valve cartridge, and the UNITED STATES PATENTS solenoid valve structure has been improved to provide an easier and quicker mounting arrangement of the 1,743,127 1/1930 Fuller ......................251/33 X solenoid valves on the valve plate secured to the com 2,826,214 3/1958 Volker....................l37/454.6 tml valve and mounting bracket 3,162,212 12/1964 Ledmg........;.........137/550 X 3,286,979 11/1966 Brown ...................137/549 X 4 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures [54] WATER SOFTENER VALVE J64 J03 J63 PATENTEDnm 31 m2 SHEET 3 BF 4 EN Y.\

1 WATER SOFTENER VALVE The present invention relates to an improved control valve for a water softener or conditionerand more particularly to an improved solenoid-actuated diaphragm control valve.

Automatic water softeners or conditioners have become more prevalent in recent years where the water softener or conditioner has a control valve that is timer actuated with regeneration occuring at preset time intervals at a time during the day when a minimum water usage is expected, such as at 2 AM. In view of the cor-' rosive effect of the salt or other regenerant, the more common valves are now being made of plastic materials which resist any corrosive action.

In the Lyall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,047, issued Apr. 29, 1969, there is disclosed a control valve assembly to provide a two-cycle valve operation of service and regeneration; with the assembly including an interconnected valve unit and eductor unit. The valve unit includes a housing and a valve cartridge, both substantially formed of plastic materials, which directs the flow of water during service and upon actuation by a timer. The present invention is an improvement of the valve structure of the above patent and the controlling pilot valve structure to provide a more effective valve arrangement.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a control valve structure formed substantially completely of suitable plastic materials, and provided with an improved valve cartridge, which valve may be utilized in a two-cycle, a four-cycle, or a fivecycle valve arrangement. The two-cycle valve assembly includes a control valve unit and an eductor valve unit controlled by a pair of solenoid operated pilot valves to provide the cycles of 1) service and 2) regeneration and rinse. The four-cycle valve is provided with two substantially identical control valve units, 'such as disclosed in the Schulze et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,728, controlled by a pair of pilot valves to provide the cycles of 1) service, 2) backwash, 3) regeneration and 4) rinse. The five-cycle valve is substantially the same as the four-cycle valve except an additional pilot valve is provided and a fifth cycle of a fast rinse is added.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel control valve unit utilizing a removable valve cartridge provided with a double diaphragm valve actuator for a two-part valve. A pressure chamber above the upper diaphragm controls actuation of the movable valve parts, andbleed-off of the pressure chamber is accomplished through the upper diaphragm to drain. Thus, the bleed-off does not affect the solenoid valve plate secured to the valve housing or the sealing thereof.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a control valve unit having an improved annular bottom seal for the valve cartridge. The bottom seal is an annular ring which is positioned on the lower cartridge surface at the periphery thereof and has an upward extending skirt encompassing the cartridge wall. An annular screen encompassing the lower cartridge wall aids in retaining the seal in position.

The present invention also comprehends a control valve unit having an improved mounting arrangement for the solenoid pilot valves on the valve plate secured to the control valve housing. The bonnets covering and sealing the pilot diaphragms are held in the valve plate by retainer rings and substantially U-shaped retainer plates that are slidable along the surface of the valve plate. Also, the solenoid coils are easily and readily secured onto the stems of the bonnets through the use of notched mounting tabs cooperating with mounting screws so that the solenoids are rotated on the bonnet stems to disengage the mounting tab from the screw and allow axial movement to remove the coil.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a five-cycle control valve assembly with the solenoid plate and solenoid valves secured thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with the solenoid coils removed from the solenoid plate.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the solenoid valves and solenoid plate for the control valve assembly with the solenoid plungers and springs omitted.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a solenoid coil taken from below the coil to show the mounting ear thereon.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the five-cycle control valve with the solenoid plate assembly removed.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of the control valve taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the solenoid valve in place.

FIG. 7. is an enlarged schematic vertical cross sectional view through the control valve unit showing a service flow pattern.

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical cross sectional view of one end of the control valve with the valve assembly in its actuated position.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the valve cartridge for the valve unit.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view through the valve cartridge.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the upper diaphragm assembly in the valve cartridge.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings where is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a control valve assembly 10 for a water softener tank (not shown) which is adapted to be positioned in a mounting bracket as shown in the Lyall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,047. As more clearly seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 of the present application, the control valve 10 includes a unitary housing 11, formed of a suitable plastic material, which is provided with a spaced pair of valve chambers 12 and 13 to receive valve cartridges l4, and with a series of ports and passages to be later described.

At the front of the valve housing 11 are located three spaced solenoid valve assemblies 15, 16 and 17 for solenoid valve fittings 18 in the control valve body. A solenoid valve plate 19 is adapted to be secured to the housing through a plurality of screws 20 and 21, or other suitable fastening means, and the plate has a lower inwardly ofi'set lip 22 adapted to be secured to the mounting bracket in the manner shown in the above Lyall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,047. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 6 of the present application, each solenoid valve assembly 15, 16 or 17 includes a valve diaphragm 23 having an enlarged peripheral lip 24 received in an annular groove 25 in the valve fitting 18, a central thicker portion 26 having a passage 27 therethrough, and a flexible web portion 28 with several holes 29 therein.

The diaphragm 23 is covered by a valve bonnet 31 having an enlarged flange 32 sealingly engaging the diaphragm lip 24 and a central body portion 33 housing an armature or plunger 34 formed of a magnetic material and biased by a compression spring 35 toward the diaphragm so that a tapered or conical tip 36 will close the central diaphragm passage 27.

The valve plate 19 has an opening 191: fitting over and receiving the valve bonnet flange 32 and receives a retaining ring 37 encompassing the flange 32.

A generally U-shaped removable retainer plate 38 is employed for each solenoid valve and these plates 38 may be identical, although the end plates as shown have had a comer removed for ease of handling. Each plate has a central large U-shaped recess 39 to encompass the valve bonnet 31, with a narrow slot 41 opening into the recess 39 at its lower end, and U-shaped slots 42 or corner recesses 43 are formed at the opposite sides of the open end of the recess 39. As shown, the center retainer 38 has opposite corner recesses 43,43 while either end retainer 38 has an inner comer recess 43 and an outer U-shaped slot 42. The slots 41, slots 42 and recesses 43 are to receive the shanks of retaining screws 21 as clearly seen in FIG. 2.

Adapted to be received on each valve bonnet body portion 33 is a solenoid coil 44 having a central passage 45 receiving the bonnet body portion 33. The solenoid coil 44 is of conventional design with a mounting bracket having a front face 46 provided with a depending mounting tab 47. Rather than a central opening in the tab, a laterally extending slot 48 is formed in the tab 47 for ease of mounting.

The problems of mounting the solenoid valve assemblies 15, 16 and 17 derive from the number of screws involved and that the screws are engaged in the plastic valve housing 11 where removal and reassembly entertains the possibility of cross threading or stripping of the screws during reassembly. The present mounting arrangement eliminates complete removal of the screws, to prevent cross threading or stripping, for the removal and inspection of a solenoid valve assembly.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 to disassemble any one of the three solenoid valve assemblies, only three screws 21 for the respective retainer 38 are required .to be loosened one-quarter turn. When loosened, the solenoid coil 44 can be partially rotated, so the lateral notch or slot 48 is disengaged from the lower screw 21, and the coil lifted off of the bonnet 31. FIG. 2 shows all of the coils 44 removed. Then the retainer 38 is slipped downward to disengage the notches and recessed corner from the screws and removed. The retaining ring 37-and the bonnet 31 can then be removed for inspection or service. Reassembly is accomplished in reverse order, and the screws 21 thus are not removed from the plastic housing 1 1 unless the valve plate 19 is required to be removed.

As seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, a control valve cap or cover 49 is bolted or otherwise suitably fastened onto the valve housing 11 to cover and seal the valve chambers 12 and 13, with a sealing gasket 51 being interposed between the cap 49 and the housing. In comparison to previous valve assemblies, such as shown in the Lyall et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,047, the bleed-off port in the front wall of the valve housing has been eliminated, with pressure bleed-off being accomplished in an alternate way. As schematically shown in FIG. 7, the valve housing 1 1 includes a hard or untreated water inlet 52, an inlet chamber 53 having a lower valve seat 54, an inlet passage 55 receiving a fitting 56 to be secured to the inlet fitting for the water conditioning tank (not shown).

A by-pass passage 57 extends from the lower end of the valve chamber 12 to an outlet chamber 58 vertically aligned below the valve chamber 13 and communicating with a treated water outlet 59. The chamber 58 has a lower valve seat 61 leading to an outlet.

passage 62 receiving an outlet fitting 63 adapted to be secured to the tank fitting for an outlet manifold (not shown), such as disclosed in the above cited Lyall et al. patent. A screen 64 may be positioned in the fitting 63, and a second passage 65 extends from the lower end of the valve chamber 13 to an eductor passage 66 housing a removable eductor unit 67 more clearly shown in FIG. 5. The eductor passage 66 extends to and opens into the inlet passage 55 at a point 68 below the valve seat 54. As seen in FIG. 9, the eductor passage 66 is sealed by a gasket 69 at the front of the housing 11 adjacent the valve chamber 12 to be engaged by the valve plate 19.

A brine passage 71 extends between the throat (not shown) of the eductor 67 and the annular chamber 72 of the solenoid valve fitting 16. The central chamber 73 of the fitting 16 communicates with a passage 74 leading to a fitting 75 for a brine conduit 76 to a brine storage tank (not shown). As seen in FIG. 7, the brine storage tank has a brine float valve 77 which is housed in a conventional float chamber in the brine tank. The float valve includes a housing 78 connected to the con-' duit 76 through a vertical passage 79 having a chamber at its upper end with a lateral fitting 81 and an oppositely extending arm 82. A flexible flow restrictor 83 is mounted in the chamber with a screen 84 therebelow and a second screen 85 in the lateral fitting.

The valve housing 78 includes a lower resilient valve seat 86, an intermediate flange 87 with by-pass grooves (not shown), and an upper annular groove for a resilient disk 88 having a valve seat 89 defining a central opening therein. A slotted cap or screen 91 is secured to the upper end of the housing 78. A float stem 92 extends through an opening in the guide arm 82, an opening in the screen 91 and the opening in the resilient disk 88 to terminate in a conical valve 93. A float 94 is adjustably mounted and frictionally retained on the stem 92, and a buoyant ball valve 95 is positioned within the housing between the intermediate flange 87 and the lower valve seat 86 and acts as an air eliminator valve as will be later described.

A common drain passage 96, 96a extends between the upper ends of each of the valve chambers 12 and 13 and intersects a common drain outlet passage 97 lead ing to a drain fitting and drain conduit 98. As seen in FIG. 6, a plate member 100 secured to the rear face of the valve housing forms both the brine fitting 75 and a fitting for the drain conduit 98. Located between the drain outlet passage 97 and the valve chamber 12 is an enlarged chamber 99 having a resilient flow restrictor 101 at the left-hand end of the chamber, as seen in FIG. 6, and a spring-biased check valve 103 in the righthand end of the chamber is biased toward engagement of the flow restrictor to close the central passage 102 therein.

The valve chamber 12 also has a passage 104 (FIG. 8) to the annular chamber portion 105 (FIG. 9) of the solenoid valve assembly 17, with the central chamber 106 thereof connected to a passage 107 leading to the dome or pressure chamber 108 at the upper end of the valve chamber 12 formed in the valve cap 49, as seen in FIG. 9. The valve chamber 13 has a similar passage 104a to the annular chamber portion 105a of the solenoid valve assembly 15. The central chamber portion 106a leads through passage 107a to the dome or pressure chamber 108a.

Each valve chamber 12 and 13 receives an improved valve cartridge 109 as more clearly shown inFIGS. 9-11. This valve cartridge 109 includes a seat ring 111 having a central chamber 112 and a valve seat 113 defining a lower end opening 114. The upper end of the seat ring terminates in a radial flange 115 having an inner peripheral groover 116 receiving the outer peripheral bead of a lower diaphragm 117. The maximum diameter of the seat ring 111 is smaller than the diameter of the stepped lower portion of the valve chamber 12 or 13 to form an annular chamber 118 therebetween. Several openings 119 are formed in the wall 121 of the seat ring. An annular seal 122, having a generally L-shape in cross section is formed to engage both the lower surface 123 and the side wall 121, and an annular screen 124 encompasses the side wall 121 and upper edge or skirt of the seal 122.

A diaphragm retainer 125 has an annular side wall with spaced radial flanges 126,127 at the opposite ends forming an annular chamber 128 therebetween. A radial inward flange 129 engages and clamps the peripheral bead of the lower diaphragm 117 and is secured to the upper flange 115 of the seal ring 111 by screws 131. A groove in the upper flange 126 receives the peripheral bead 132 of the upper diaphragm 133. The valve cap 49 has an annular depending flange 134 surrounding the dome chamber 108 or 108a which engages the upper flanges 126 and diaphragm bead 132 to position and retain the valve cartridge 109 in the valve chamber 12 or 13. The valve cap 49 also has the upper L-shaped portion 135 of the passage 107 or 107a leading to the dome chamber 108 or 108a.

An annular ring seal 136 is received on a shoulder 137 of the stepped portion of the valve chamber and is engaged by the lower flange 126 to seal the chamber 128 from the chamber 118. Openings 138 in the retainer wall communicate between the chamber 139 within the retainer and the annular chamber 128.

. Within the retainer 125 and the seal ring 111 is a twopart reciprocable valve assembly including a plunger tube 141 having a central passage 142 and an enlarged lower end 143 covered with a resilient cover 144 forma valve member engaging either the valve seat 113 or the lower valve seat 54.

Within the plunger tube 141 is a reciprocable valve stem 145 having radial fins 146 and terminating at its lower end in a conical valve 147 adapted to engage the resilient cover 144 and close the central passage 142 between the valve stem and the plunger tube. At its upper end the valve stem terminates in a threaded portion 148 above an enlarged shoulder 149. A generally circular diaphragm support 151 is received on the threaded end 148 and has a depending peripheral flange 152, a bleed opening 153 and a thicker central portion 154 with depending fins 155 to space the support from the extension of the plunger tube to be later described. i

The upper diaphragm 133 has the outer bead 132 and a flexible central portion with a central opening 156 to receive the threaded valve stem end 148 and a molded bleed flow control 157, with the flow control extending below the diaphragm into the opening 153 of the support 151 and above the diaphragm into an opening 159 of a diaphragm plate 158 above the diaphragm. The diaphragm plate has a centralopening 161 receiving the stem threaded end 148, and a Tinnerman nut or speed clip 162 engages the threaded end 148 to secure, the diaphragm plate 158, diaphragm 133, diaphragm support 151 and the valve stem 145 together. The diaphragm 133 is also formed with an upwardly and inwardly extending integral molded flange 163 adapted to grip the edges of a domed screen 164 extending over the plate 158 and nut 162.

A retainer nut 165 has a depending threaded portion 165a threadingly engaging the inner threaded surface of the plunger tube 141 and a slip ring 166 engaging the inner bead periphery of the lower diaphragm 117 and abutting a radial flange 167 on the retainer nut 165 to secure the diaphragm 117 to the reciprocable valve assembly in the same manner as shown in the above mentioned Lyall et a1. patent. Also, a plunger compression spring 168 has one end engaging the underside of the diaphragm support 151 and the opposite end engaging the upper surface of the radial flange 167. The retainer nut 165 has an upwardly extending wall above the flange 167 acting as the extension of the plunger tube and is engaged by the depending spacing fins 155 on the support 151. The valve cartridge in the chamber 13 is identical to the cartridge 109 shown, and the parts of the cartridge in the chamber 13 shown in FIG. 7 are denoted with the same numeral having a superscript 0.

Now considering the operation of this control valve assembly, a suitable timer (not shown) is utilized to control the time when the valve assembly causes regeneration of the water softener to which it is attached. Normally such regeneration would occur at a time of little water demand, such as 2 AM. The softener can be regenerated as often as necessary during the course of a week or regeneration can be controlled by an indicator showing when the resin bed has reached a substantially exhausted state. The schematic showing of FIG. 7 discloses the control valve setting for normal service operation with all of the solenoid valve assemblies 15, 16 and 17 in their unactuated state and the valve cartridges in their upper positions. Hard water flows through the inlet 52, valve chamber 54, inlet passage 55 and fitting 56 to the inlet manifold of the water conditioning tank (not shown). The hard water is treated by passing through a treating material bed and passes up a conventionaloutlet manifold to the fitting 63, and through the outlet passage 62, outlet chamber '58 and treated water outlet 59 to service.

- actuated by a suitable regeneration timer. During service, water pressure is present in the by-pass passage 57, central valve chamber 112 and passage 104, in the brine passage 71, and in the second passage 65, chamber 112a and passage 104a, but the solenoid valves prevent any water pressure to the dome chambers 108, 108a, or the brine conduit 76. When the solenoid valve assembly 17 is actuated, the armature or plunger 34 is retracted to allow liquid flow from the annular chamber 105 through the web openings 29 and central opening 27 to the central chamber 106 and then through the passage 107, and L-shaped passage 135 to the dome chamber 108 to exert pressure on the upper diaphragm 133; the diaphragm 26 of the assembly 17 not being lifted off of its seat. Pressure on the diaphragm causes the two-part valve to be moved downward with the plunger tube 141 moving until the end 143 and resilient cover 144 engage the lower valve seat 54, and then the valve stem 145 moves downward relative to the plunger tube to unseat the conical valve 147 and open the central passage 142 in the plunger tube 141.

Then hard water entering the inlet 52 and chamber 53 is diverted into the chamber 1 12 and thence through the openings 119 and the annular chamber 118 to the by-pass passage 57. The position of the valve assembly in the valve chamber 12 is shown in FIG. 8. Water enters the chamber 58 and is available to service through the outlet 59. Flow from chamber 58 occurs through passage 62 and fitting 63 down through the outlet manifold (as shown in the Lyall et al. patent) to the bottom of the tank and then water flows up through and expands the mineral bed to backwash the bed and remove any impurities accumulated therein.

The effluent from the backwashing operation passes through the fitting 56, passage 55 and central passage 142 in the plunger tube 141 to the drain chamber 139 in the valve cartridge 109. This liquid then passes through the openings 138 and the annular chamber 128 to the drain passage 96, through the flow restrictor 101 and past the check valve 103 to the passage 97 and conduit 98. While pressure is exerted in the dome chamber 108, a small amount of liquid is continuously bled through the bleed-off 157 in the diaphragm 133 to drain, but such amount is negligible.

After a prescribed time interval, the solenoid valve assembly 15 is actuated by the timer to actuate the valve assembly inthe cartridge 109a in the valve chamber 13 to an identical position as that shown in FIG. 8, in the same manner as described above. With this valve actuated, flow to the passage 62 from by-pass passage 57 is blocked, and all flow, except that required for service though outlet 59, is diverted into chamber 1120, through openings 119a to the passage 65. This liquid flow passes through the eductor 67 and passage 66, creating a partial vacuum in the brine passage 71. The vacuum lifts the solenoid diaphragm 23 in the assembly 16 so that the vacuum is exerted through conduit 76 to draw brine from the brine storage tank (not shown).

Brine flow takes the path through the screen 91 and past the valve 93 to enter the housing 78, past the buoyant ball valve 95 and out the vertical passage 79 and conduit 76 to the brine passage 71 and the eductor 67 to mix withthe water from the second passage 65. The dilute brine passes through the passage 66 and entrance 68 and into the passage 55 to pass down through the backwashed mineral bed. Efiluent pressure is present in both drain chambers 139,139a; however, the check valve 103 prevents flow from the drain chamber 139 and allows flow from the outlet manifold through fitting 63, passage 62, central passage 142a, drain chamber 139a, and drain passage 96a to the common passage 97 and drain conduit 98.

Brine flow will continue until the brine level in the brine tank reaches the height of the valve seat 86, at which time the buoyant ball valve 95 will seat on the valve seat 86 to prevent air from being educted into the conduit 76 and the control valve 10. Water flow, however, will continue through the eductor 67 for a prescribed time interval to provide a slow rinse of the regenerated mineral bed. At the end of this step, the solenoid valve 17 is deenergized to close communication between passages 104 and 107 and pressure is exerted under the lower diaphragm 117 to urge the plunger tube 141 and the valve stem to their upper closed positions. The liquid in the dome chamber 108 is gradually bled through the. bleed-off 157 in the diaphragm 133 to the drain chamber 139 to allow upward movement of the upper diaphragm 133, the valve stem 145 and the plunger tube 141.

As the valve cartridge 109a is still energized, a rapid rinse cycle occurs for a short time interval with flow of hard water entering inlet 52 and chamber 53 and passing down through passage 55 and fitting 56 to the tank and down through the mineral bed. Rinse effluent passes up through the outlet manifold into the fitting 63 and passage 62 and through the central passage 142a, the drain chamber 139a, the drain passage 96a and the drain 97 to the conduit 98. Hard water is available to service during the rapid rinse cycle through the passage 66, the eductor 67, the passage 65 and the by-pass chamber 112a communicating with the chamber 58 and the outlet 59. When this time interval elapses, the solenoid valve assembly 15 is de-energized to shift the plunger tube 141a and valve stem 145a to their original positions, as shown in FIG. 7, in the same manner as previously described for the valve cartridge 109. The control valve 10 is again positioned as shown in FIG. 7 for a service cycle.

When the rapid rinse cycle ends and the service cycle begins, the solenoid valve assembly 16 is energized to lift the armature 35 therein and allow flow from the passage 55 through the opening 68 and passage 66, the eductor 67, the brine passage 71, and through the web openings and central opening in the diaphragm 26 to the passage 74 and to conduit 76 leading to the brine tank and the lateral fitting 81. Water passes through the flow restrictor 83 and the vertical passage 79-to the housing 78, where liquid lifts the bouyant ball valve 95 off of the seat 86, passes around the valve 95, through the intermediate flange 87, the disk 88 and the screen 91 to fill the tank. As a safety feature further flow or solenoid valve leakage would lift the float 94 until the conical valve 93 seats on the valve seat 89 stopping flow. After a prescribed time interval, the solenoid valve assembly 16 is de-energized to close the passage '71. The system is now set until regeneration is again required.

Although shown for a five-cycle control valve 10, the improved features of the valve cartridge and the solenoid valve assembly may also be utilized for the fourcycle valve of the Schulze et al. US. Pat. No. 3,083,728 or for a two-cycle valve assembly disclosed in the Lyall et a1. (1.8. Pat. No. 3,441,047.

I claim:

1. An improved cartridge unit adapted to be inserted in a generally cylindrical chamber of a valve housing comprising a stepped cylindrical cartridge body, a twopart valve mounted for reciprocation in said body with the valve extending below the body, and including a hollow plunger terminating in an enlarged head and a valve stem within the plunger and terminating in a lower conical end and an upper threaded end, spaced upper and lower diaphragrns in said body, means receiving the outer periphery of the upper diaphragm in the upper edge of said body, said upper diaphragm having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset flow control with a bleed opening therethrough, a lower diaphragm support plate having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset opening receiving the depending end of said flow control, an upper retainer plate having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset opening receiving the upper end of the flow control, fastening means to secure the diaphragm support plate, the upper diaphragm and the retainer plate to said valve stem, and screen means covering said bleed opening.

2. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said screen means includes a dome-shaped screen and said upper diaphragm includes an annular upwardly and inwardly extending flange encompassing said retainer plate and receiving the annular edge of said screen.

3. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 1, including an annular lower sealing ring for said cartridge body having a flat sealing surface and an upstanding skirt encompassing and engaging the lower side wall of the cartridge body to be retained thereon.

4. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 3, including an annular screen encompassing the lower side wall of the cartridge body and the skirt of said annular lower sealing ring, said cartridge side wall having radial openings to allow fluid flow through said annular screen. 

1. An improved cartridge unit adapted to be inserted in a generally cylindrical chamber of a valve housing comprising a stepped cylindrical cartridge body, a two-part valve mounted for reciprocation in said body with the valve extending below the body, and including a hollow plunger terminating in an enlarged head and a valve stem within the plunger and terminating in a lower conical end and an upper threaded end, spaced upper and lower diaphragms in said body, means receiving the outer periphery of the upper diaphragm in the upper edge of said body, said upper diaphragm having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset flow control with a bleed opening therethrough, a lower diaphragm support plate having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset opening receiving the depending end of said flow control, an upper retainer plate having a central opening receiving said valve stem and an offset opening receiving the upper end of the flow control, fastening means to secure the diaphragm support plate, the upper diaphragm and the retainer plate to said valve stem, and screen means covering said bleed opening.
 2. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said screen means includes a dome-shaped screen and said upper diaphragm includes an annular upwardly and inwardly extending flange encompassing said retainer plate and receiving the annular edge of said screen.
 3. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 1, including an annular lower sealing ring for said cartridge body having a flat sealing surface and an upstanding skirt encompassing and engaging the lower side wall of the cartridge body to be retained thereon.
 4. An improved cartridge unit as set forth in claim 3, including an annular screen encompassing the lower side wall of the cartridge body and the skirt of said annular lower sealing ring, said cartridge side wall having radial openings to allow fluid flow through said annular screen. 